Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1911 — OLD TESTAMENT TIMES BROOKLYN ABERNACLE BIBLE STUDES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OLD TESTAMENT TIMES BROOKLYN ABERNACLE BIBLE STUDES

.HEZEKIAH'S GREAT REFORM II Chronicles 30—June 11 “Mari looketh on the outicard appearanrk, but the Lord looketh on tM heart.”—J Samuel 16.-7. KING HEZEKIAH of Judah has a wonderffil record as a man of God, a reformer, a patriot, yet he was the son of a bad father, who in turn was the son of a good father, who in turn was the son of a bad father. The alternation between good and bad for four generations illustrates the fact that, although heredity has much to do with every member of our race, nevertheless, there are counter-balances in nature. We are all members of Adam’s family, and as we are all sharers in the general weakness, mental, moral and- physical, which for six thousand years has descended upon us. St. Paul refers to this, saying, "By one man’s disobedience sin entered into the world, and death as the result of

sin; and thus death passed upon all men. because all are sinners. Romans 5:12. The downward or sinful tendency inbred in our very constitution is so strong that none is able fully to overcome it. The best that

any of us can do Is to set our wills in opposition to our inherited weaknesses and to fight courageously against them. The Apostle assures us that if it were jxjssible for humanity to fully gain such a victory over its fallen self as to bring itself back to perfection, then doubtless God would have provided that way of salvation. „ Hezekiah the Reformer The King’s father had introduced idolatrous worship—erecting altars and groves to the worship of Buhl. God’s temple was strewn with rubbish. Under the direction of the King, the Levites began a cleansing work. It required eight days to carry out the rubbish from the court, etc. Then the priests, who alone were authorized to enter into the Holy, or temple proper, were directed to cleanse the temple itself. But as a preliminary work, before the cleansing of the court or the temple began, the King directed that the priests and the Levites sanctify themselves afresh to the Lord and His service. How appropriate! How in harmony with the words of the Prophet Isaiah, who lived at that time and who was the King’s counselor—"Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord’s house!”—lsa. 52:11.

But let us not forget the instruction of St. Peter upon this subject. Comparing the priesthood of Israel with the institutions of the Christian church, St. Peter gives us the thought that the priests of olden times do not find their antitypes in the clergy of today, but in God’s saintly or sanctified people, whether in or out of the public ministry. Thus St. Peter says to all of the consecrated Church of Christ,/ “Ye are a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” The Divine Blessing The conclusion of the feast was a Divine blessing the people, through the Priests and Levites. So

there goes out a Divine blessing from the Lord’s sanctified people —from all the consecrated of the household of faith—to the people in general—to their nefghb o r s, their friends and visitors from afar. Let such be our influence amongst

men. In this connection let us remember the power of the tongue, of which the Apostle said. “Therewith praise we God, and therewith curse (or injure), we ipen.” Let our tongues and all our powers be used in blessing the people as well as in praising our God. The King wisely began his reformation at the temple and gave the priests and Levites the first share therein. It was later that the idols of the city of Jerusalem were gathered and hurled into the valley of Kedron, and it was after the fervor of the Passover occasion that the zeal of the people in general rose high, and they went forth all over the land, destroying the idols, the groves of Baal, and every symbol of disloyalty to God. And so today: Everywhere the light of our day-is showing more and more of the meanness, selfishness, corruption —some of it centuries 'old. and some of it bred of special privilege and opportunity. The call for reform is heard on every hand, although sometimes but feeble. The proper place for reform is, as in Hezekiah's day. with the sanctification of the priests and the Levites themselves. / If the Church of Christ could but faithfully perform her responsibility, under the direction of the King, it would mean a great revival of religion.

Destroying idols.

Hezekiah's great Passover.